Lagerstroemia plant named ‘SMNLIJ’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Lagerstroemia plant named ‘SMNLIJ’ is disclosed, characterized by large coral pink flowers. Plants are upright AND well branched with dark greyed-purple foliage. The new variety is a Lagerstroemia, normally used for outdoor ornamental purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lagerstroemia indica.

Variety denomination: ‘SMNLIJ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Lagerstroemia cultivar is a product of a planned breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, Megan Mathey, in Grand Haven, Mich.The objective of the breeding program was to develop ornamental plantswith good plant habits and new flower colors. The open pollinationresulting in this new variety was made during Summer of 2015.

The seed parent is the unpatented Lagerstroemia indica ‘Crimson Red’.The pollen parent is unidentified. The new variety was selected in Julyof 2015 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2015open pollination, in a commercial nursery in Grand Haven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar has been performed by softwoodcuttings. This was first performed at the same nursery in Grand Haven,Mich. during Summer of 2017, and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiplesuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SMNLIJ’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SMNLIJ’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SMNLIJ’ as a new and distinct Lagerstroemiacultivar:

-   1. Attractive dark foliage.-   2. Large coral pink blooms.-   3. Good branching.-   4. Upright plant habit.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNLIJ’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, in most horticultural characteristics; however, plants of thenew cultivar ‘SMNLIJ’ differ in the following;

-   1. The new variety has coral pink flowers while the seed parent has    cherry red flowers.-   2. Plants of the new variety produce more branches than the seed    parent.-   3. The new variety has stronger stems than the seed parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNLIJ’ are comparable to the commercialvariety Lagerstroemia ‘PIILAG-V’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,925. The twoLagerstroemia varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, the new variety ‘SMNLIJ’ differs in thefollowing;

-   1. Plants of the new variety produce more branches than plants of    this comparator.-   2. Plants of the new variety are shorter than plants of this    comparator.-   3. Flowers of the new variety are a more coral shade than the coral    pink flowers of this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates flowering plantsoutdoors at approximately 3 years old in Grand Haven, Mich.

FIG.2 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘SMNLIJ’ in a 3gallon pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 1.5 to 2years old from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close up of the inflorescence and foliage.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘SMNLIJ’ plants grown in a poly house in GrandHaven, Mich. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 18° C. to27° C. during the day and from approximately 5° C. to 10° C. during thenight. General light conditions are normal sunlight and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Lagerstroemia indica ‘SMNLIJ’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Softwood cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots: 21 days at 18-27° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: 1-2 months at 18-27° C.-   Root description: Thin, dense, fibrous, moderate branching. White in    color, not accurately measured with R.H.S. Chart.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: 2-3 years old from a rooted cutting.-   Container size: 3 gallon container.-   Overall plant shape: Upright.-   Growth habit: Upright and freely branching. Deciduous flowering    shrub.-   Plant spread: 64 cm.-   Plant height: 48 cm.-   Plant vigor: Good.-   Length of primary lateral branches: 40 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 4 mm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: 15.-   Stem:    -   -   Color.—New growth: RHS Greyed-Purple 187A. Old growth: RHS            Greyed-Brown 199C.        -   Shape.—New growth: Square. Old growth: Round.        -   Strength.—Good.        -   Aspect angle.—15-35°.        -   Texture.—New growth glabrous, old growth woody.-   Internode length: Average 2.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Sub-opposite.        -   Average length.—5.5 cm.        -   Average width.—2.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.        -   Aspect.—Strong upward fold along center.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, ribbed.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Greyed-Purple N186A.            Young foliage under side: RHS Brown N200B. Mature foliage            upper side: RHS Greyed-Purple N186A. Mature foliage under            side: RHS Brown N200B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS            Greyed-Purple N187A. Venation color under side: RHS            Greyed-Purple 183C.        -   Petiole.—Length: 1 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Texture, upper side:            Smooth. Texture, under side: Smooth. Color, upper side: RHS            Greyed-Purple 187A. Color, under side: RHS Greyed-Purple            187A.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Summer to Fall.-   Inflorescence form: Panicle at terminal ends.-   Flowers per inflorescence: Average range 20 to 60.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Width.—10 cm.        -   Height.—16 cm.-   Individual flowers:    -   -   Type.—Rotate.        -   Habit.—Whorled upward and outward.        -   Diameter.—4 cm.        -   Length.—4 cm.        -   Persistence.—Self-cleaning.        -   Fragrance.—Lightly earthy.-   Petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Loose whorl of 6 petals.        -   Number.—6.        -   Shape.—Undulate orbicular shape.        -   Margin.—Loose undulate.        -   Tip shape.—Rounded.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Length.—1.5 cm.        -   Width.—1.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Upper: Soft, smooth, delicate. Lower: Soft, smooth,            delicate.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS Red-Purple 58C.            Under surface: RHS Red-Purple 58C. Fully opened: Upper            surface: RHS Red-Purple 58C. Under surface: RHS Red-Purple            58C.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Spherical.        -   Length.—10 mm.        -   Diameter.—8 mm.        -   Color.—RHS Greyed-Purple 184A.-   Sepals:    -   -   Appearance.—Smooth, glossy.        -   Arrangement.—Unguiculate.        -   Shape.—Narrowly triangular.        -   Tip shape.—Acute.        -   Base shape.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Quantity per flower.—6.        -   Length.—4 mm.        -   Width.—3 mm.        -   Texture.—Upper: Smooth, coriaceous, rugose. Lower: Smooth.        -   Color.—Upper: Near Greyed-Purple 184A. Lower: RHS            Yellow-White 158D.-   Calyx:    -   -   Shape.—Unguiculate.        -   Length.—5 mm.        -   Diameter.—9 mm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—1.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS Greyed-Purple 187C.        -   Strength.—Flexible.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—5 mm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS Greyed-Purple 187C.        -   Strength.—Flexible.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—About 29.        -   Filament length.—1 cm.        -   Filament color.—RHS Red-Purple 70D, with White 155B at base.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow 9A.        -   Pollen.—Amount: Moderate. Color: RHS Yellow 9A.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—2 cm.        -   Style.—Length: 1.8 cm. Color: RHS Greyed-Purple 184D.-   Stigma:    -   -   Shape.—Globular.        -   Color.—RHS Black 202A.        -   Ovary color.—RHS Yellow 11B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fruits and seeds: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Lagerstroemia observed.-   Temperature range: Observed to tolerate a temperature range from    −28° C. to 35° C. Root hardy to −28° C., top of the plant does die    back to the ground.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lagerstroemiaplant named ‘SMNLIJ’ as herein illustrated and described.